The loss to Alabama was the tip of the iceberg. Then came coach Brian Kelly's dalliance with the Philadelphia Eagles. Then came the other thing, which took on a life of its own and nearly swallowed whole a feel-good season and a feel-good career – only to take a bite, chew around, run a few laps and then quit, though not without a fight.

Then running back Cierre Wood left for the NFL a season ahead of schedule, robbing the Irish of a major contributor at a position of need. Then freshman Gunner Kiel transferred, eventually landing at Cincinnati, of all places. Then Davonte Neal transferred, followed by Justin Ferguson. Then Eddie Vanderdoes came into play, with that drama beginning in May and extending until August.

Then came Everett Golson, the would-be sophomore who will miss the coming season due to academic issues before returning in the spring, potentially regaining his starting role for the 2014 season. Alabama, Eagles, catfish, draft, Kiel, Neal, Vanderdoes, Golson, scene. It's been a bumpy ride since Miami. Is it time for football yet?

But judging by how Kelly has approached this roster, most notably in his handling of the quarterback situation, paints this fall as a building season – not a rebuilding season, but one where Notre Dame gets on the same page, accumulates experience and prepares to take off in 2013. Laugh, if you'd like. But keep in mind the idea that ND would have won at least nine games last fall had it done a better job protecting the football. The Irish are close. This schedule might not lead to an improvement in the win column, but if you look closely, you see a Notre Dame program that has made genuine and meaningful improvement in nearly every facet of the game over Kelly's two seasons – you see a program almost ready to push back.

2012 RECAP

— In a nutshell: The echoes shook off the cobwebs after a two-decade absence, pushing ND into the championship conversation for the first time since 1993 – with all respect to Charlie Weis' first two teams – before the Irish encountered Alabama, when the dream died an ugly death. It was nonetheless a season to remember, to savor, and certainly not one defined by one night in Miami. The Irish showed the intestinal fortitude sorely lacking not only during Kelly's first two years but for a decade-plus, allowing the Irish to survive not one close call but two, three and four – Purdue, Michigan, Stanford, Brigham Young and Pittsburgh. That's five, actually. But you lost count after a while, right? The memorable moments: Rees saving the day, the defense fooling Denard Robinson, the goal-line stand against the Cardinal, the game-saving drives against Pittsburgh, the stifling defense against overmatched USC. It was a dream season, until the BCS title game.

— High point: Stanford will be remembered, if for the wrong reasons. Beating USC is great; beating USC to land a spot in the national title game is wonderful. The Irish played a nearly pitch-perfect game in dismantling Oklahoma in Norman on Oct. 27 – this was the win that made the country stand up and take notice.

— Low point: Alabama, of course. The scariest moment came after the game, when Nick Saban told said he'd revel in the victory for 48 hours before getting back to work. I think someone fainted.

— Tidbit: Notre Dame's roster includes players from 29 different states. Rather than list the states that do have a player on the roster – because that's longer – here are those states not represented: Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, West Virginia, Delaware, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

— Brian Kelly (Assumption '83), 28-11 after three seasons with the Fighting Irish. Kelly's first teams went up and down, playing like title contenders one week but then slipping back the next, typically suffering through inopportune penalties, turnovers and missteps against major competition. But something funny happened between 2011 and 2012: Notre Dame developed not only a nasty streak, which had been missing, but also grew the sort of never-quit, never-waver mentality needed to survive close call after close call on the road to the BCS championship game.

His ascension to college football's premier spot was justified: Kelly compiled a 34-7 record in three seasons at Cincinnati, a period that included a pair of conference championships. He was named the Big East Coach of the Year in each of his three full years with the program. Kelly followed up a 10-win debut season with an 11-3 mark in 2008, which included the program's first Big East title and BCS bowl berth. Cincinnati took another sizable step forward in 2009, running through the regular season undefeated and making a claim to playing for the national championship. None can doubt the distinct impression Kelly left on the Cincinnati program after replacing current Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio prior to the 2007 International Bowl. Kelly had taken the job 34 days prior to the bowl game, and instead of merely taking that last month to familiarize himself with the program – or even staying away until the end of the season – Kelly determinedly installed his offensive philosophy, something that was undoubtedly key to Cincinnati's strong finish in his first full season in charge.

He has gained a well-earned reputation as a program builder, something that drew him national attention during his three-year stint at Central Michigan (2004-6). The Chippewas, who had won more than three games only once in the previous four years, improved in each of Kelly's seasons, from 4-7 in 2004 to 6-5 in 2005 to a 9-4 mark and a MAC championship in his final season. Before moving up to the FBS with CMU, Kelly was the coach at Division II Grand Valley State for 13 seasons, winning back-to-back Division II titles in 2003 and 2004. Overall, Kelly brings a 199-70-2 career record into his 24th season coaching on the NCAA level. He's building quite the legacy.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

— Offense: Notre Dame's offensive line returns three starters, with none more valuable than senior left tackle Zack Martin, a likely All-American. It'd be nice for Martin to get that level of recognition: ND realizes his importance, but Martin is deserving of a trip through the end-of-year banquet circuit. The left side of the line is terrific, with senior Chris Watt back at left guard, and junior Nick Martin has solidified his grasp on the center position. The right side of the line hinges somewhat on Conor Hanratty's health, as he should be the starter at guard if able. And if not? Then Christian Lombard moves inside from tackle, opening up the tackle spot to sophomore Ronnie Stanley. While Stanley might be too talented not to play in some major capacity, ND's best strong-side options might be Hanratty and Lombard. It's a nice group. What's particularly vital is that the staff begins working into the mix the many blue-chip talents signed during the last two recruiting cycles; Kelly and friends have replenished the ranks, but these youngsters need to be ready in 2014.

With Wood and Theo Riddick gone, ND's running game turns to junior George Atkinson III (361 yards), a big-play threat in last year's offense who must now adopt a more every-down approach in 2013 – not just hitting the corner but also churning out yards between the tackles. One thing to note: Atkinson III has seemingly fended off every challenge to the top spot during the offseason, which does reflect well on his own talent, drive and preparation. But can he shoulder the load? Let's remember that Wood and Riddick weren't bruisers by any stretch; they handled the job nicely, though with a by-committee approach. Look for the same from the Irish this fall. Cam McDaniel has had a nice offseason, so he's in line for touches. Amir Carlisle is top-notch potential unrealized, partially due to injuries, but could have a nice year in this offense. Two other unknowns, sophomore Will Mahone and freshman Tarean Foslton, could conceivably be used in the rotation. Then there's true freshman Greg Bryant, and there's every reason to think he's going to hold an enormous role in this offense as a rookie. Bryant's skill set – size, speed, vision – is unmatched on the roster. He could have a significant impact on the BCS race; he could also be underwhelming, as many freshmen backs are.

Carlisle could spend the entire season as the Irish's slot receiver, hinging on how much faith Kelly and Tony Alford have in sophomore C.J. Prosise, a former defensive back. Neal's transfer – he was slated to be the starter – has muddied the waters at the position. But overall depth at the position is very solid: TJ Jones (50 receptions for 649 yards) and DaVaris Daniels (31 for 490) are a wonderful pair, with both on the Biletnikoff watch list, and senior Daniel Smith and sophomore Chris Brown have done their part to earn the staff's trust. At tight end, ND will replace Tyler Eifert with three walls of granite: Troy Niklas, Alex Welch and Ben Koyack. Niklas is a bulldozer in pads; a backhoe in blue and gold. What defines this group isn't this trustworthy top half, however, but the young depth – as Kelly and ND have finally added five or six high-impact freshmen and sophomores into the mix. While most will sit as rookies, look for Corey Robinson, James Onwualu and Will Fuller to play from the start. Don't worry about the lack of an All-American; the Irish will get it done with numbers.

— Defense: There are some holes along the front seven. One is in the middle, of course, where ND must find a way to replicate a good portion of Manti Te'o's production. The second level took another hit this week, when Danny Spond's chronic migraine issues forced him to end his college career – a tough blow for ND, but a tougher blow for the talented senior. Who steps up? In terms of replacing Spond on the outside, the Irish could turn to true freshman Jaylon Smith, one of the gems of a star-studded recruiting class. But a better fit, if he's ready, would be junior Ben Councell, who has the size, length and athleticism to shine in a starting role – again, if he's ready. Inside, ND will replace Te'o with junior Jarrett Grace, who apprenticed a year ago; Carlo Calabrese (49 tackles) is clearly an option as well, so he'll see extensive time at both spots in the middle. The two returning starters are good: Prince Shembo (51 tackles, 7.5 sacks) brings pressure and Dan Fox (63 tackles) helps clean up in the running game. Keep an eye on sophomore Romeo Okwara: ND could throw him a redshirt, since he's still very young, but Okwara and Ishaq Williams could also be major weapons on passing downs.

You know the two stars up front: Stephon Tuitt (47 tackles, 12.0 sacks) and Louis Nix III (50 tackles, 7.5 for loss) give the Irish two All-American defensive linemen, a luxury unshared by any other team in college football. You might not be familiar with the third starter, the new guy, but you will be soon: Sheldon Day, a sophomore end set to replace Kapron Lewis-Moore, has done nothing but impress the staff and his teammates with his talent, work effort and – prepare for a new word – unblockability. That's your starting threesome, and it doesn't get much better than that. True freshman Isaac Rochell may get a look at end, but ND's reserve line leans more heavily on experienced hands like Kona Schwenke, Justin Utupo and Jarron Jones.

The secondary is more experienced than at this point a year ago even with the loss of strong safety Zeke Motta. His spot should go to sophomore Elijah Shumate, who dabbled at cornerback as a rookie but was recruited to play along the back end. Shumate's the lone new face, joining established starters in cornerbacks KeiVarae Russell (58 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Bennett Jackson (65 tackles, 4 interceptions) and free safety Matthias Farley (49 tackles). Although this group is secure – at the very least, since Russell has star potential – the Irish also welcome back cornerback Lo Wood from injury and break in a likely immediate-impact freshman in Max Redfield, who could both play safety and move inside as a nickel cornerback. Cornerbacks Jalen Brown and Josh Atkinson will continue to see time on the outside.

— Special teams: One would think that the Irish's ever-growing talent level will have a decidedly positive impact on the return game. One would hope so, at least. Although last year's key figures return, minus Neal, the Irish must get more oomph on kickoffs and punts – especially the latter, which would give this offense a boost. Carlisle's an option, as are Atkinson III, McDaniel and a few freshmen. Junior kicker Kyle Brindza stepped into the starting role one game into last season and delivered well, making five field goals in the win against USC, and could double as ND's punter in 2013. Another option is senior Alex Wulfeck, a transfer from Wake Forest.

POSITION(S) TO WATCH

— Quarterback: There's no conversation: Tommy Rees is the starter. He was the starter the second Golson was gone, in fact, as no other option on ND's roster came close to matching Rees' experience, knowledge of the system and – yes, this too – trust from the coaching staff. Say what you'd like, that Kelly sweats when Rees enters, that Rees lacks confidence, that the offense stumbles under his direction; these aren't necessarily false. This is true: Rees gives Notre Dame the best chance at winning 10 or more games in 2013 – and this by a long shot. He's started 18 games during his three-year career, five down the stretch in 2011 and all 13 games a year later. He's started at least one game against every opponent on ND's upcoming schedule but Temple, Oklahoma and Arizona State – and all three of those teams are at home or at a neutral site. He's 7-3 as the starter in home games. All Kelly has done throughout his career is tailor an offense to best suit his personnel. Oh, that's going to change? And let's remember one thing: Rees inherits a team vastly removed from the tentative, error-prone, weak-in-the-knees squad from 2011. Things have changed.

By the way, what do you know about the starting quarterbacks at Oklahoma and USC? Nothing? Yes, because they've done nothing. Rees' 18 career starts aren't merely more than any other starting quarterback ND is set to face during the regular season; they're more than every opponent's starting quarterback combined. Let's focus on the positives rather than the negatives. As for the Irish's secondary option, Kelly could utilize Andrew Hendrix in a change-of-pace role, though true freshman Malik Zaire continues to make a case for the backup job during fall camp. With Rees not overly mobile, the Irish could certainly carve out a spot for either Hendrix or Zaire in specific packages, perhaps early on downs or near the goal line.

GAME(S) TO WATCH

— Michigan: It's your typical schedule: Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State, USC, Navy, Pittsburgh and Stanford. The Irish also have another tussle with BYU and Oklahoma while facing Arizona State at a neutral site. So the schedule is what we thought it'd be: tough. An undefeated season isn't in the cards, in my mind, but ND's shot at a BCS bowl hinges on its ability to go no worse than 4-2 against Michigan, Michigan State, USC, Oklahoma, BYU and Stanford. Even a 4-2 mark leaves little room for error.

SEASON BREAKDOWN & PREDICTION

— In a nutshell: Another undefeated season seems out of range for this team, though let's remember: We all thought the same a year ago. There's something to be said of a team that battles against the tides to win close game after close game, much like Kansas State in 2011 – because it's often not a fluke, but rather a sign that a squad has the toughness, leadership and coaching to thrive in the midst of adversity. In other words, I don't buy into the idea that the Irish slide in 2013 solely because they are no longer able to corral the lucky bounce; I think enough talent and experience returns this fall to ensure that ND continues to fare better than the opposition in game-changing pressure situations.

This team is still a championship contender. Will ND play for another title? I don't think so, but to say this team can't run the gauntlet again in 2013 and win 11 or 12 games ignores the roster's massive growth during the last 24 months. Whether the Irish can post another banner year depends almost solely on the play of this offense, which is rightfully viewed with some degree of skepticism heading into the opener. Skepticism might be too strong – how about concern? Whether Rees can deliver, avoiding interceptions and hitting downfield, is a concern. Whether the young core at receiver can supply depth is a concern. The depth behind Atkinson III is somewhat concerning, though Bryant can alleviate this issue with a strong fall camp. The offense is a concern, but it's still good enough to help ND win at least eight games during the regular season.

There are no questions on defense, especially with Day thriving up front and the number of options along the second level. What might be lacking is the big play, something Te'o delivered in spades, and this defense must continue to force mistakes to help bolster the offense. That's the theme: ND is a very similar team to a year ago, merely less explosive – particularly on offense. So the range of wins runs from eight on the low end to 12 on the high end, with the Irish likely falling in the middle. My projection: ND goes 9-3, losing three games from the group of Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Arizona State, USC, BYU and Stanford. That should be enough to put the Irish right in the mix for an at-large BCS bid.

— Dream season: Notre Dame runs the table, earning another date with Alabama for the national championship.

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125: Georgia State - Georgia State joins the Sun Belt Conference as the newest member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The team is led by former Indiana State coach Trent Miles, who knows a thing or two about massive rebuilding projects, but the Panthers are several years away from competing for bowl eligibility.
Jim Avelis, AP

124: Massachusetts - After going 1-11 in 2012, its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, UMass enters year two under Charley Molnar with little hope of any major improvement against another difficult schedule. The Minutemen are just a hair behind Akron for last place in the Mid-American Conference East Division.
Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports

123: Idaho - After being part of the since-disintegrated Western Athletic Conference, the Vandals will spend one season as a Football Bowl Subdivision independent before joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. It won’t be pretty: Idaho will play Northern Illinois, Fresno State, Mississippi and Florida State, among others.
Kyle Mills, AP

122: South Alabama - The Jaguars went 2-11 as first-year members of the Sun Belt Conference in 2012, and that record won’t improve dramatically unless the offense fixes the missteps that defined last season. While coach Joey Jones has assembled some talent, South Alabama is still too inexperienced to be a real threat for more than three or four wins.
Mark Dolejs, USA TODAY Sports

121: New Mexico State. Previous coach DeWayne Walker left on his own accord after compiling a 10-40 record from 2009-2012, taking an assistant position with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 24, less than two weeks before national signing day. Walker's replacement, Doug Martin, has two things Walker did not when he took over late in 2008: FBS coaching experience (seven seasons at Kent State) and experience in Las Cruces (2011 as the Aggies' offensive coordinator).
Jim Avelis, AP

120: Akron - The Zips proved they could move the football last season, the program’s first under former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, but having a stronger offense didn’t prevent Akron from going 0-11 against Football Bowl Subdivision opposition. A year later, Akron remains far too undermanned to make any waves in the Mid-American Conference.
Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

119: Texas at San Antonio - The youngest program in college football, UTSA quickly moved from the Sun Belt Conference to Conference USA. The issue with such rapid growth is that it will force the Roadrunners to play beyond their years, and this team seems too inexperienced to handle the increased level of competition found in Conference USA.
Eric Gay, Associated Press

118: Florida International - After spending several years building to the point where it could reach back-to-back bowl games, as Florida International did from 2010-11, FIU is back to square one under new coach Ron Turner. The Golden Panthers are entering the first stage of what should be a long and painful rebuilding project.
Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

117: Eastern Michigan - Eastern Michigan is again out to prove its 6-6 finish in 2011 – the program’s lone six-win season since 1995 – was not a fluke. That seemed to be the case last fall, when the Eagles stumbled back to 2-10, the program’s third 10-loss season in four tries under coach Ron English. Confidence is not high in Ypsilanti.
Rob Christy, USA TODAY Sports

116: Memphis - The Tigers made some strides last season, winning four games under coach Justin Fuente, but will be tested by the tougher level of competition in the American Athletic Conference. While the program has clearly improved, 2013 should again find Memphis at the bottom of the conference standings.
Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY Sports

115: Colorado - It can only get better than it was a year ago, if only because things couldn’t possibly get worse. Colorado begins a new era under former San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre with full knowledge of the difficult road that lies ahead. At the very least, CU knows it is now pointed in the right direction.
David Zalubowski, AP

114: UNLV. It's been 13 years since UNLV posted a winning season. The program is mired in a stretch of five seasons of 10 or more losses in the past seven years, with the last three coming under coach Bobby Hauck.
Bradley Leeb, USA TODAY Sports

113: North Texas leaves the Sun Belt Conference to join Conference USA in 2013. Will a change in scenery lead to a change in the standings? The Mean Green have been better under coach Dan McCarney, winning nine games over the last two seasons, but this team won’t go anywhere unless it can find some much-needed explosiveness on offense.
Scott Sewell, USA TODAY Sports

112: After nine seasons under Mike Price, UTEP welcomes back former assistant Sean Kugler as its new coach in 2013. Kugler has some weapons to work with, including a high-profile addition in Texas A,M transfer Jameill Showers at quarterback, but it will take time for him to reverse UTEP’s losing ways.
Rudy Gutierrez, AP

111: Florida Atlantic -- The team's quest to bolster its fundraising coffers by offering up the naming rights to its new stadium hit a snag after the university student body and surrounding community quickly soured on a deal with GEO Group, a for-profit prison operator with a history of fines, investigations and violations.
Photo courtesy of Florida Atlantic University

110: Illinois -- Bruised and battered Illinois lacks confidence, as one might expect after the Illini won only a single game against Football Bowl Subdivision opposition during the program's first season under former Toledo coach Tim Beckman. Illinois also lacks an offense, a defense and an identity.
Rudy Gutierrez, AP

108: New Mexico -- Four wins is cause for celebration at New Mexico, which went 3-33 from 2009-11 but finished 4-9 in 2012, its first season under former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie. The Lobos may be stuck in neutral while Davie and his staff add talent and depth to a depleted roster, likely leading to another season with four or fewer wins, but the program has found a run-first formula to hang with stronger opponents during Mountain West Conference play.
USA TODAY Sports

107: Colorado State -- This team enters year two of its rebuilding process under coach Jim McElwain, who learned a thing or two about building a winner as the former offensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama. The Rams’ issues in 2013 circle around an offense that remains in flux while it acclimates itself into McElwain’s pro-style scheme. A tough schedule will send CSU to another losing season.
USA TODAY Sports

106: Army. Army exceeded expectations once, in 2010, creating both a remarkably pleasing individual season while increasing the belief that the Cadets and coach Rich Ellerson could do so again. Unfortunately, Army has since slid back to successive losing seasons, with last year ending in a nightmare: Trailing by four points with little more than a minute left, the Cadets fumbled the ball away deep inside Navy territory to again lose to their academy rival.
Jim Avelis, AP

105: Hawaii -- Former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow has painfully reworked Hawaii’s offense away from a pass-happy system into his pro-style scheme. Results thus far have been decidedly mixed. For now, the Rainbow Warriors will continue to lean on a defense with some speed and talent on the edge while the offense finds its form with a new starting quarterback, junior Taylor Graham. Hawaii is at least one full season away from competing for a bowl bid.
USA TODAY Sports

104: Texas State -- The Bobcats won four games last fall, the program’s first as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. This season finds Texas State in the Sun Belt Conference, an offensively prolific league that will test one of the nation’s worst defenses. But the Bobcats are very hopeful that FBS transfers like D.J. Yendrey and Mike Orakpo can give this defense some much-needed experience, production and aggressiveness.
L. Scott Mann AP

103: Miami (Ohio) -- Miami has lost at least eight games in four of the last seasons and has been outscored in each of the last seven seasons, two facts that illustrate the RedHawks’ current rut. Will things change in 2013? Third-year coach Don Treadwell’s group faces holes at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, so the defense will need to carry the load against a fairly easy schedule should Miami look to reach the postseason.
USA TODAY Sports

102: Central Michigan -- The Chippewas reached a bowl game last season by beating the bad teams on the schedule. Despite winning seven games, the gap between Central Michigan and MAC frontrunners like Northern Illinois, Toledo and Ball State remained immense. In terms of personnel, CMU needs to replace a multiple-year starter at quarterback and left tackle Eric Fisher, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.
USA TODAY Sports

101: Kentucky -- Welcome to the new era of Kentucky football, revel in this new-car smell, because things have changed: Mark Stoops, the former defensive coordinator at Florida State, has altered the very way Kentucky views itself in the SEC pecking order. Not to mention Kentucky's own pecking order: The basketball team struggled this year, so there might be a power void at the top. Kentucky drew 50,831 fans to its spring game, or more than the Wildcats drew for any two home games from October on, judging by the pictures. Kentucky has reeled in more four-star recruits since December than at any point over the previous decade – combined, or just about.
USA TODAY Sports

100: Boston College -- The Eagles have sat and watched as their consistency, a hallmark of the program for the first decade of the new millennium, has crumbled to become nonexistent. New Boston College coach Steve Addazio's first task will be remaking the Eagles' broken sense of self-worth. If not the easiest first step, at least Addazio can tackle the task without worrying about teams like USC, Florida State and Clemson, three of Boston College's opponents over the first half of 2013. Wins and losses matter less than player development.
Jim Cowser, USA TODAY Sports

99: SMU -- Last year's team was better than its 7-6 record might indicate, particularly in terms of personnel. The Mustangs had a five-star transfer from Texas at quarterback, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield, a 1,000-yard receiver, a strong defensive line, an outstanding linebacker corps and a ball-hawking secondary. Yet the Mustangs still failed to beat any opponent of consequence outside of Tulsa, going 1-5 during the regular season against eventual bowl teams.
Jim Cowser, USA TODAY Sports

98: Western Michigan -- To properly understand where P.J. Fleck is coming from you need to sit down and watch him explain his new team's Nekton Mentality, Prefontaine Pace and Farmers' Alliance. These are things, real things, and to Fleck, they are what will separate Western Michigan from the rest of the MAC – actually, according to Fleck, they will ultimately separate the Broncos from the rest of college football.
Marilyn Indahl, USA TODAY Sports

97: Troy -- Once a Sun Belt Conference power, Troy has ceded the top spot to conference rivals like Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Western Kentucky and Louisiana-Lafayette over the last two seasons. Getting back to the postseason might be difficult: Troy returns only seven starters, the second-fewest of any team in the country, and lacks depth on each side of the ball.
Jim Brown, US Presswire

96: Kansas -- The opening season in the Charlie Weis era at Kansas went poorly, with a 1-11 mark and a last-place finish in the Big 12. The five-year plan enters year two now: will it be baby steps, befitting Kansas' recent run as the nation's worst automatic-qualifying program, or will the Jayhawks break through the ceiling and challenge for a bowl berth in the brutal Big 12?
Mike DiNovo, US Presswire

95: California -- Jeff Tedford, who coached California for the previous 11 seasons, is gone. In his place, former Louisiana coach Sonny Dykes is the latest offensive innovator to take the reins of a Pac-12 program since 2009. What does this say about California, Dykes and the North? It says that offense is in vogue throughout the division, helping present the Pac-12 as the flip-side to the SEC's defense-first mentality.
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports

94: Rice -- Rice rode an explosive offense to a bowl game in 2012, defeating the Air Force Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl. Can that explosive attack continue to help cover up a woeful defense (Rice has now allowed at least 48 points in a game 35 times since the start of the 2000 season) not only for this campaign, but beyond?
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

No. 93: Washington State -- In their second year under coach Mike Leach, can the Cougars reverse their string of losing at least eight games in the last five seasons? Only one other Pac-12 school has suffered as many eight-loss seasons in a row: Oregon State lost eight or more games in each season from 1979-87.
Allen Henry, USA TODAY Sports

No. 92: Connecticut -- As always, the Huskies are strong on defense but weak on offense. In the past six seasons, UConn quarterbacks have combined to throw 69 touchdowns against 72 interceptions while averaging 185.67 yards per game. Over the same span, the Huskies' defense has allowed 91 passing touchdowns against 97 interceptions while holding opposing quarterbacks to an average of 218.39 yards per game.
David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports

No. 91: UAB -- The Blazers and second year head coach Garrick McGee are trending up, with young talent on both sides of the ball. However, despite their relatively weak conference, UAB looks to still be a year away from reaching a bowl game.
Marvin Gentry, US Presswire

90: Wyoming -- The Cowboys have won 15 games in the past three years, with most coming in an eight-win finish in 2011. Three have come against Football Championship Subdivision competition. Three have come against Colorado State – a combined 10-26 since 2010. Of Wyoming's 15 wins since 2010, only three have come against winning teams: Toledo in 2010 and San Diego State and Air Force in 2011. Every other defeated opponent ended the season with seven or more losses. So what is Wyoming going to do when there are no more easy wins – when its MWC schedule is loaded with teams with realistic bowl hopes?
Brendan Maloney, US PRESSWIRE

89: Purdue -- The Boilermakers have a new coach in Darrell Hazell, who won 11 games at Kent State last season with a unique system of steps that he is proud to call his own. In specific, Hazell's blueprint worked for Kent State. But his plan is universal: It'll work everywhere, whether we're talking Kent State, Purdue or Ohio State, should Hazell slide into the Buckeyes' plans at some point in the future. The Boilermakers will win with what they've got and feel good doing so. Just not from the start, perhaps.
Byron Hetzler, USA TODAY Sports

88: Temple -- Temple went back into its past to nab a replacement for Boston College-bound Steve Addazio. It shied away from the years prior to 2006, when Al Golden stepped in and reversed the program's fate, and opted for one of Golden's chief lieutenants in ex-offensive coordinator Matt Rhule. Rhule's return spells a move back to Temple's recent glory days, when the offense was pro-style, the defense aggressive and the team worked as one cohesive unit. Those were good times. Rhule will bring 'em back.
Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports

87: Iowa State -- Never before has Iowa State football had this level of fan support. What's not to like? The fan base admires the work coach Paul Rhoads and his staff have put into creating a consistent Big 12 presence, albeit one that typically sneaks into bowl play with six wins, hovering along the league's bottom third. The typically undermanned Cyclones are overachievers, basically. But here's a question: Once you overachieve once, twice, three times, aren't you simply achieving?
Peter G. Aiken, USA TODAY Sports

86: Duke -- Duke is looking to return to bowl play after winning six games in 2012. To do that and reach the postseason, Duke must find consistent play from new quarterback Anthony Boone. Duke will look to a more balanced offense to move the ball against ACC competition.
Mark Dolejs, USA TODAY Sports

85: Kent State -- Led by electric running back Dri Archer, Kent State will try to stay at a high level of achievement after an 11-3 season despite losing their coach to Purdue in the offseason. Prior to last season, Kent State was the lone FBS program with roots in the 20th century with a career winning percentage below .400 – it stood at .388, to be precise. Prior to last season, Kent State had not won more than six games since 1987. Prior to last season, Kent State was mired in a run of 32 non-winning seasons in 34 years. Then, last season, The Flashes came within a whisper of the Bowl Championship Series, believe it or not, and would have been the underdog story to end all underdog stories.
Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports

84: Pittsburgh --Pitt's defense is good enough to carry this team. But to say that the Panthers can win six or more games without a strong offense would be misleading – and this offense has some major holes to address before getting started against Florida State in early September.
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

83: Arkansas -- After a disastrous 2012 campaign following the summer departure of Bobby Petrino, the once-proud Razorbacks will try to get back in to bowl contention in the stacked Southeastern Conference. Coach Bret Bielema will bring a taste of the Big Ten to the SEC, turning Arkansas' finesse style into a punishing, physical team worthy of rolling in the mud with perennial powers like Alabama, Florida and LSU.
Jeff Blake, USA TODAY Sports

82: Southern Mississippi -- After an 0-12 season, the Golden Eagles had no choice but to dismiss their coach and hire former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken to replace him. Like Larry Fedora before him, brings sterling offensive credentials to Hattiesburg. But unlike Johnson, who took over a 12-win team, Monken inherits a winless group struggling to relocate its confidence. USM can take some solace in the fact it can't get any worse.
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

81: Syracuse - New coach Scott Shafer still has his hands full tutoring a fairly inexperienced team – the Orange return only 11 starters – in a new league, a more competitive ACC.
Rich Barnes, USA TODAY Sports

80: South Florida -- Coming off a 3-9 season, USF hired Willie Taggart as head coach. South Florida is one of five American Athletic Conference holdovers from the old Big East, not counting Temple, which joined the Big East as the league entered its death throes in 2012. Of the five, USF joins Rutgers as the lone programs to have not reached the Bowl Championship Series.
Daniel Wallace, AP

79: Middle Tennessee State --What team shows up in 2013? Perhaps the eight-win squad of 2012, or the 10-win team of 2009, or the bowl team of 2010. Or will it be the 10-loss team of 2011, as disappointing a non-automatically qualifying group in the country?
Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports

78: Virginia --UVa has plus-talent at quarterback, running back, receiver and all throughout the defense, with the only issue for 2013 being that nearly every meaningful contributor stands a season away from a breakthrough.
Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports

77: Minnesota --Think about this: Every year, Minnesota's quest for bowl eligibility goes through the Wolverines, Cornhuskers, Spartans, Wildcats and Hawkeyes – and sometimes, that quintet will be joined by Leaders Division teams like Wisconsin and Penn State. That'll happen sometimes. Like in 2013, for example.
Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

75: Western Kentucky --There's a blindingly bright future at WKU, even if it's hard to predict just how long Petrino remains with the program before a win-hungry power comes calling. To get to the next level, however, Petrino needs to develop personnel on offense to fit his foolproof system.
Nathan Morgan/Daily News, AP

74: Buffalo -- Coach Jeff Quinn has done a great job developing talent, as Buffalo won three of its last four games. The arrow is pointing up for this squad, which could reach a bowl game this year. The running game will continue to go through Branden Oliver (pictured), one of the MAC's best backs.
Nathan Morgan/Daily News, AP

73. Indiana - The Hoosiers enter this season a confident group, having won four games under Kevin Wilson last fall. He has developed the team's offense into one of the most potent in the Big Ten. To take the next step, Indiana will need to build more depth on the defensive side.
Nathan Morgan/Daily News, AP

72. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons are loaded with seniors and several underclassmen set for larger roles. They should challenge for six wins with coach Jim Grobe thanks to a strong offense, which will be more run-based, and increased depth.
Chuck Burton, AP

71. Houston: After 17 seasons with Conference USA, Houston joins the American. It hopes to rejoin the postseason after going 5-7 last season. Dave Piland must step up at quarterback and the defensive-line interior needs to be rebuilt.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

70. San Jose State: The Spartans won the Military Bowl last season, finishing an impressive campaign in which they went 11-2 and earned a national ranking in both polls. Even with one of the nation's best quarterbacks in David Fales (No.1), new coach Ron Caragher and his staff has their hands full fixing the defense.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

69. Iowa: The Hawkeyes look to rebound after going 4-8 a season ago. Coach Kirk Ferentz will have to find a new quarterback to replace replace James Vandenberg. Their postseason hopes will ride on a strong backfield and and offensive line.
Charlie Neibergall, AP

67. Air Force: Are there negative signs? I'd say so. But are they reasons for concern? No, not really. Though Air Force has been trending downward the last two years – 13-13 combined since the start of the 2011 season – the Falcons have, to be fair, lost four games by single digits. It was only two years ago that Air Force scored 454 points, the fourth-highest total in school history – so the offense isn't broken. Likewise, the Falcons' 2011 defense ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in yards allowed per game. So what happened last season? The Falcons struggled. It happens.
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

66. Maryland: The Terps enter Year 3 under Randy Edsall with serious bowl expectations. Maryland will have increased depth and will land markedly improved production at quarterback, with C.J. Brown (pictured) healthy. To ensure six wins, Maryland must address some personnel issues on the defensive side of the ball
Patrick Semansky, AP

65. Louisiana-Monroe: ULM had its first breakthrough as a member of the FBS last season, winning eight games. The Warhawks return 17 starters altogether, with eight on offense (including dual-threat QB Kolton Browning) and nine on defense. ULM is easily one of the top three teams in the Sun Belt Conference and a bowl favorite.
Patrick Semansky, AP

64. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have reached three bowl games in a row under coach Dan Mullen. Last season ended poorly for the Bulldogs, with four losses in five games after a 7-0 start. To rebound, MSU needs to land more consistent quarterback play and replace two cornerbacks
Patrick Semansky, AP

63. Louisiana Tech: After a nine win season that amazingly did not earn them a postseason bid, Louisiana Tech is aiming to keep up their success from last season behind a truly explosive offense. In order to get a BCS bid, which is a possibility if they play their cards right, they must hold serve against weak WAC opponents.
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports

62. Tennessee: Tennessee was a few first downs, a third-down conversion, a fourth-down stop, a two-point conversion and an errant pass away from reaching bowl eligibility last fall, the program's third year under ex-coach Derek Dooley. But now Dooley is gone after he failed to make a Bowl game, and in his stead is hot new coach Butch Jones.
Randy Sartin, USA TODAY Sports

61. Utah: Utah didn't bite off more than it could chew in joining the Pac-12, though the record might suggest otherwise: After going 33-6 in its final three years in the Mountain West Conference, Utah has slid to 13-12 in its new league – finishing outside of bowl eligibility last fall, a program-first since the pre-Urban Meyer period. The Utes have moved away from their winning tradition somewhat in recent years, but are looking to get back there on the back of a good offense.
Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports

60. Navy: Okay, so the Midshipmen beat Army again last season. There's a word for Navy's run of success in the chase for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy: Domination. The Midshipmen have won eight of the past 10 trophies, losing out to Air Force in 2010 and 2011. Last season's sweep – wins against both Army and Air Force – marked the program's eighth double-dip since 2003. But the gap among the armed forces academies might be closing pretty quickly. Just don't tell these Midshipmen.
Danny Wild, USA TODAY Sports

59: Utah State: Utah State came this close to a perfect regular season in 2012, as a missed field goal against BYU sunk their BCS chances. They lost their two games by a combined five points. Then there are the 11 wins, eight coming by 22 or more points. USU was quite easily one of college football's best teams of 2012, one separated from greater glory by only the slimmest of margins.
Douglas C. Pizac, USA TODAY Sports

58. Missouri: The Tigers really struggled in their first season in the SEC, not making a bowl game for the first time since 2004. That's to be expected moving in to the most powerful conference in college football if you don't have a Heisman-winning quarterback, so we can cut Mizzou some slack. They will show improvement this season.
Dak Dillon, USA TODAY Sports

57. West Virginia: West Virginia looks for a vastly improved defense to team with an offense that should remain among the Big 12's best despite changes at quarterback, wide receiver and offensive guard. The Mountaineers started 5-0 in 2012, rising as high as No. 4 in the polls, before losing six of eight to end the season.
Rob Christy, USA TODAY Sports

56. Auburn - After a disastrous 3-9 (0-8 SEC) season, Auburn finally fired Gene Chizik and brought former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn in to head the program. It was an amazing fall for the Tigers, who won a national championship and went undefeated in 2010-11. Now, Auburn must start virtually from scratch, but have brought in some talented recruits that may help ease the transition.
John Reed, USA TODAY Sports

55. Arkansas State - The Red Wolves won the GoDaddy.com Bowl last year, but now have their fourth new head coach in the last four seasons. But ASU is at the front of the Sun Belt conference and should continue to make the postseason and win games once they get there.
Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports

54. Rutgers: Give Rutgers coach Kyle Flood credit for many things, including his nine-win debut as Greg Schiano's replacement, but let's focus on one achievement in particular: Flood and Rutgers have recruited as well as any team in the Big East – and the American Athletic Conference, now that it's 2013. They're not Louisville in terms of quality, but the Scarlet Knights will almost certainly make a bowl game.
Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports

53. North Carolina State: After a seven-win season, the Wolfpack has a new coach in former Northern Illinois head man Dave Doeren. After some good results and bad results over the tenure of Tom O'Brien, the pack is ready to move away from average overall results and try and move to the top of the ACC.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports

52. Bowling Green. Bowling Green: The Falcons’ defense will remain the best in the Mid-American Conference despite losing two all-conference starters. Bowling Green’s biggest concern is quarterback play, where senior Matt Schilz’s disappointing 2012 season has led coach Dave Clawson to create a quarterback competition. If the offense doesn’t improve, Bowling Green could top out at seven wins and a second-place finish in the East Division.
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51. Arizona: After a tremendous debut, coach Rich Rodriguez will need to cobble together an offense without last year’s starting quarterback and top receiver. While the offensive line and running game remain strong, Arizona’s defense is not to the point where it can slow down many opponents during Pac-12 play. The Wildcats will return to the postseason, but the team might struggle in September as it transitions to a new cast on offense.
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